Hydrangea plant named ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’, characterized by its compact, upright and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and strong stems; large mophead-type inflorescences with pink-colored sterile flowers that are initially green in color during early development; and long flowering period.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Aarslev, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new container-type Hydrangea plants withstrong stems, early flowering response and attractive leaf and flowercoloration.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination during thespring of 2009 of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophyllaidentified as code number 04-00, not patented, as the female, or seed,parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identifiedas code number 11-00, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. Thenew Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor inFebruary, 2011 as a flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inAarslev, Denmark.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings inAarslev, Denmark since the spring of 2011 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’ as a newand distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright and mounded plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit and strong stems.    -   4. Large mophead-type inflorescences with pink-colored sterile        flowers that are initially green in color during early        development.    -   5. Long flowering period.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger stems than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger inflorescences than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea have thicker        and more durable sepals than sterile flowers of plants of the        female parent selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have longer postproduction        longevity (shelf-life) than plants of the female parent        selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger stems than plants        of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea have larger inflorescences than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have mophead-type inflorescences        whereas plants of the male parent selection have lacecap-type        inflorescences.    -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea and the male parent selection        differ in sterile flower color as plants of the male parent        selection have sterile flowers that are dark pink in color.    -   5. Plants of the new Hydrangea have longer postproduction        longevity (shelf-life) than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘H213901’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,221. Plantsof the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213901’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the Hydrangea are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of ‘H213901’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea flower earlier than plants of        ‘H213901’.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Hydrangea have more        sterile flowers than inflorescences of plants of ‘H213901’.    -   4. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are flatter        than and not as folded and curly as sterile flowers of plants of        ‘H213901’.    -   5. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘H213901’ differ in sterile        flower color as plants of ‘H213901’ have sterile flowers that        are dark red purple in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘H213906’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,509. Plantsof the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘H213906’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the Hydrangea are more compact than and not as        vigorous as plants of ‘H213906’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘H213906’ differ in sterile        flower color as plants of ‘H213906’ have sterile flowers that        are dark pink in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance ofthe new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newHydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicaldeveloping inflorescence of ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’ (top of sheet) and adeveloped inflorescence of ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’ (bottom of sheet).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the followingdescription were grown during the spring in 13-cm containers in aglass-covered greenhouse in Aarslev, Denmark and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. Plants of the newHydrangea were pinched one time and were one year old when thephotographs and description were taken. During the production of theplants, day temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 25° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. and light levels ranged from40 to 50 klux. Plants used for the description and photographs were nottreated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SCHROLL124-09-01’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 04-00, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea            macrophylla identified as code number 11-00, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—By softwood cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 19° C. to 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at            temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures about 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white, close            to N155D, in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial subshrub; compact, upright            and mounded plant habit; broadly inverted triangle; freely            branching habit with about six to eight lateral branches            developing per plant; strong lateral branches; moderately            vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 32 cm to 35 cm.        -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 37 cm to 42 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 15 cm to 20 cm. Diameter:            About 5 mm to 7 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm to 4 cm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody            with development. Color, developing: Close to 142A and 140B.            Color, developed: Close to 199B. Color, lenticels: Close to            N199B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 9 cm to 9.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm to 7.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acute or sub-acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse to rounded.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Rugose, glabrous;            moderately glossy to matte.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Rough, glabrous;            prominent venation; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 131A and            135A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 131A; venation,            close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            146C; venation, close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm to 10 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 142B, 140C and            144C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.-   Inflorescence & flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy single sterile and            inconspicuous single fertile flowers arranged on terminal            mophead-type panicles; panicles hemispherical to flattened            globular in overall shape; fertile flowers face mostly            upright and sterile flowers face upright to outwardly; early            flowering habit, plants begin flowering about twelve weeks            after planting.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering during the            summer in Northern Europe.        -   Flower longevity, fertile flowers.—Flowers last less than            one month; fertile flowers not persistent.        -   Flower longevity, sterile flowers.—Long flowering period,            flowers last about four months on the plant; sterile flowers            persistent.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit with about 100            fertile flowers and about 120 to 200 sterile flowers per            panicle.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Panicle height.—About 7 cm to 11 cm.        -   Panicle diameter.—About 13 cm to 15 cm.        -   Flower diameter, fertile flowers.—About 1.5 cm to 2 cm.        -   Flower depth (height), fertile flowers.—About 3 mm to 4 mm.        -   Flower diameter, sterile flowers.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Flower depth (height), sterile flowers.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower shape, fertile flowers.—Deltoid.        -   Flower shape, sterile flowers.—Deltoid.        -   Flower buds, fertile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close            to 144B to 144C.        -   Flower buds, sterile flowers.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter:            About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close            to 144C.        -   Petals, fertile flowers only.—Quantity and arrangement: Four            in a single whorl; valvate. Length: About 3 mm to 3.5 mm.            Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Roughly deltoid. Apex: Acute.            Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Rough, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 97A and 91B.            When opening, lower surface: Close to 90D and 92B; towards            the margins, close to 97B to 97C. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 91A and 91B; towards the margins, close to            91C to 91D and 97B and 97C; color becoming closer to 76C and            84C with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to            76A to 76C and 91B to 91C; color becoming closer to 76C to            76D with development.        -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl; imbricate. Length: About 2 mm. Width: About 2            mm to 3 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base: Rounded.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 75A; towards the margins, close to 75C to 75D. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 75B to 75C; venation, close            to 62A to 62B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75A and            76A; towards the margins, close to 76B to 76C; color            becoming closer to 75C with development. Fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 75B; venation, close to 62A to 62B; color            becoming closer to 75A and 76B to 76C with development.        -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a            single whorl; imbricate. Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 2            cm to 2.3 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Subacute to rounded.            Base: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface:            Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Rugose, glabrous.            Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B            to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 75A and 76A;            towards the margins, close to 76B to 76C; color becoming            closer to 75C with development. Fully opened, lower surface:            Close to 75B; venation, close to 62A to 62B; color becoming            closer to 75A and 76B to 76C with development.        -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 2 mm to 3.5 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Aspect: Upright to slightly slanted. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 62B to 62C.        -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 30° to 35° from            vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 62B and            68C to 68D.        -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers only.—Stamens: Quantity            per flower: About eight. Filament length: About 1 mm to            2 mm. Filament color: Close to N88A to N88B. Anther length:            Less than 1 mm. Anther shape: Two-lobed, conical. Anther            color: Close to N88A to N88B. Pollen amount: Abundant.            Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils: Pistil quantity per            flower: About three. Pistil length: About 1.5 mm to 2 mm.            Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 84A and            N87B to N87C. Style length: About 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Style            color: Close to 84A and N88A.        -   Seeds.—Quantity: Numerous. Color: Close to 200C.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been    observed to be resistant to spider mites; plants of the new    Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and    other pests common to Hydrangea plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown    to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from −5° C. to 35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named‘SCHROLL124-09-01’ as illustrated and described.